NEPAD Business Foundation African Leadership Programme

WHY I AM AN AFRICAN

NBF AFRICAN LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME

MAY 2007

To be African is to be proud of the uniqueness of our collective identity as Africans and the differentiating factors that set us apart from any other continent – which are:

· One of the oldest civilizations and cultures in the world

· Diversity – embrace the diversity of the many different tribal and country characteristics and traits

· The massive opportunities that exist in Africa as a developing nation – developing means still to be developed – which means to be inventive and create our own solutions that are appropriate for Africa. Creative plus new solutions.

· Excitement at the dawn of a new era for Africa – pioneers in how we re-engineer and re-invent our collective identity and continent for economic and social growth

· Development of a shared vision for African Renaissance

· I am an African of Chinese heritage but our environment shapes us and we define our identifies by the values and cultures we are influenced by our experience – environment

· We have an opportunity to shape the future of this continent and drive it to its rightful glory